In the bowl of a stand mixer, put butter, brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and salt.
Cream everything together until smooth.
Add the egg and whisk more.
Sift in the flour and baking soda, then mix with a wooden spoon.
Get your hand in the dough and gently mix it and form a ball.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
In a slightly floured working board, roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thick.
Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out the dough.
Place the cut out pieces in a non stick baking sheet.
Bake in a 350°F preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Let cool completely.
Decorate the gingerbread men cookies as you like them, with sugar icing, royal icing, chocolate, you name it.